Surface covering for buildings and the like



April 26, 1938. B, G, GOSUN Y v2,115,222v

,SURFACE COVERING 'FOR BUILDINGS AND THE LIK A Filed Aug. 16,1957 sheets-sheet 1 Fils- 6' u Fis- 7V l 'FeG- als- 9 l n 4 n :sv e 2.6a9 'as |a s 5 M 'FHS--10 Fis- 11 l? 'FuE--3 l0 IO L I l 1 \e Fils-4- 5 'T 57 au l 0,; c: r. g

ATTORNEY April 26,1938. .-5. G. GSLIN 2,115,222 y SURFACE COVERING lFOR EUILDNGS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 16, 1957 l 2 sheets-sheet 2 'Fils- 13 27 as as P15115 Ein- 15 Fil-,-17

THS- 14 lNVENTOR Bert @.Goslm BY OPZMJ:

A TORNEY Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Bert G. Goslin, Battle Creek, Mich.

Application August 16, 1937, Serial No. 159,301

17Claims.

'Ihe present invention relates to surface coverings, and more particularly to surface covering elements adapted to be laid so as to produce a stone wall appearance.

In the past frame buildings, and the like, have commonly had their side surfaces covered with either siding or wooden shingles. In order to preserve and retain the appearance of such elements, it is necessary to paint or stain same at frequent intervals and between applications of paint, to wash the particular surface. To overcome the necessity of painting or staining of building side walls, it has long been common practice to construct such surfaces of brick or stone. 'Ihe initial cost of such construction, however, is exceptionally high and construction progress slow. To overcome some of these shortcomings, it has recently been proposed to cover the side walls of buildings with asbestos shingles, since such covering is relatively permanent and does not require paint. These shingles, like any other exposed surface, become dirty in a short time, and in case of the conventional white or light gray shingles, it becomes necessary to wash the exposed surface of same at intervals of a year or two in order to retain the desired appearance. I'he necessity of washing, however, overcomes part of the advantages of using asbestos shingles for this purpose. Stone wall buildings, on the other hand, are of ancient origin and are expected to weather and become dirty. In fact, some architects specify weathered-stone for use in the construction of new houses and other buildings in order to obtain the desired appearance. With this in mind, the present invention has been directed to a surface covering which will simulate a stone wall laid with rectangular stones in courses, and hence eliminate the necessity of painting and washing the wall in its final laid form.

Accordingly, among the objects of the present invention` is the provision of elements adapted for laying in courses having alternating wide and narrow exposure, and with which may be used at intervals, substantially rectangular two-course height elements.

Another object of the invention is the provision of elements of wide and narrow exposure which may be cut from a blank with either no waste or substantially none.

Another object is to provide a combination of elements that is very economical to use due to the moderate total surface area of same required to cover a square" of wall surface.

Another object is to provide elements wherein the narrow exposure elements have long tongues on their upper edges, and the wide exposure elements have 'short tongues on their upper edges. This provides a combination which may be laid in alternating wide and narrow exposure courses and wherein the joints at the ends of each element, when laid over the center of a tongue on the next lower element, will thus provide fully under-covered joints with the tongue extending above the bottom of the next higher course, which 1 obviates the necessity of using mortar joints or strips under each joint to avoid leakage.

Another object is to provide elements which may be laid up in manner such that there are no joints wherein leakage may take place direct to the surface behind such joint.

Another object is to provide elements wherein there are no exposed nails to pull under exposure to the sun, wear out, rust, or cause discoloration streaks.

A further object is to provide the two-course substantially rectangular elements with ears on the sides of same at the upper corners thereof, thus producing a side coverage joint, said ears being provided with means for anchoring same to the surface being covered.

A further object is to provide elements which do not have to be laid perfectly in line and with straight tight joints, since no one expects the edges of hewed stone to be exactly in a straight line, and the same applies to an article simulating such appearance. This of itself results in a saving of labor, since it peliminates the necessity of hand rasping of joints to make a tight vit, a thing which is standard practice today with asbestos shingles used for siding.

A further object is to provide such elements in preferred construction with notched side edges to give the appearance of mortar llled vertical joints, and at the same time prevent vertical wind tunnels atthe joint.

A still further object is to provide the Wide and narrow exposure elements with nail holes at a point under the overlap of the next higher course and at a point wherein at least part of the holes will be adjacent the upper end of the tongues of the next lower' course, so that by passing a nail through each of such holes and dropping the element down until the nails contact the top of the tongue or tongues of the next lower element or elements, the proper exposure spacing'will be obtained. l

A still further object is to provide elements with a groove or grooves on the face of same which are economical to form, may be formed with practically no waste, are simple and economical to lay, and reduce to a minimum labor cost per unit area covered.,

Further objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, how-V ever, but several of various ways in which the principle of the `invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Figure l shows a typical blank from which both wide and narrow exposure elements may be cut.

Figure 2 is a face view of a narrow exposure element. I Figure 3 is a faceV view of a wide exposure element.

Figure 4 is a face view oi' a special form of narrow exposure element with a groove along its upper edge.

Figure 5 shows a two unit element of the narrow exposure type. l

Figure 6 shows a special form of a single unit of wide exposure element.

Figure '7 shows another special form of a single unit of wide exposure element.

Figure 8 shows a special element adapted for two course exposure.

Figurev 9 shows a modified form of the element shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a section view along the line Ier-I0 of Figure 4.

Figure 11 shows a side and end view of afiller strip for use inconnectionwith the element of Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 12 shows the mode of assembling the elements about a two-course height element.

Figure 13 shows the assembly of three courses of the elements.

Figure 14 is a face view of a conventional assembly of the elements as they appear when mounted `on a suitable surface.

Figure 15 shows a two unitelement of the wide exposuretype. f

Figure 16 shows a special form of two unit narrow exposure element.

Figure 1'7 shows a special form of a single unit of narrow exposure element.

'I'he common practice in forming asbestos shingles is to first form asheet and cut same to a 48" square size. This sheet in turn may be cut up into shingles or the like- For simplicity of .understanding the present invention, it will be described in terms of using the 48" x 48" sheets of asbestos shingle stock. If this sheet iscut into quarters, then each quarter can be cut, as shown in Figure 1, to form two narrow exposure and two wide exposure elements, all of which will be 24" long. Instead of cutting the sheet into quarters, it may be cut full length, and thus produce eight 48" length elements, four of which are lnarrow exposure and four wide exposure. The sheet mayv also be cutqvertically 16"- from either the right or left end, and thus produce four 32" length narrow exposure elements, four 32" length wide exposure elements, four 16" length narrow exposure elements, and four 16" length wide exposure elements. From this, it is to be noted that the elements are multiples of 8" length units. This particular size has been merely chosen for simplicity of understanding the principles of the invention as set out herein, and under no consideration is to be construed as a limitation of the invention, since the elements may be of various sizes, so long as the principles set forth herein are complied with. The elements x'nay'also be cut with straight bottom edges, or

with uneven bottom edges which simulate hewed stone, either of which can be considered to be diagrammatically shown in the drawings.

Referring more particularly to Figure l, 'the blank l may be cut to form a pairof narrow exposure elements 2 and a pair of wide exposure elements 3. The endsof the wide and narrow exposure elements maybe started at any prescribed point. For instance, at the center of one of the tongues, the center of the hollow between a pair of the tongues, or otherwise. ',Hcwever, in order to have all of the narrow exposure elements alike, and all of the wide exposure elements alike, the cutting should be such that the edgeof the elements will start at approximately the center of the inclined edge on the side of one of the tongues, as shown in Figure 1. After the cutting is completed and the elements separated, the narrow exposure element 2 and the wide exposure element I will have the general appearance as shown in Figures 2 and 3 respectively. These elements are provided with nail holes l which may Y opening. between elements and hence avoid v wlndtunne at the butted edge.

A convenient size for the elements wherein 8" length units or a multiple thereof Aare used.l

involves, in case of the 21/2" exposure element, tongues which are spaced at 8 centers and have a height of 4%", the distance from the bottom of the element to thebottom of the hollow between the tongues being 3". The width of the end of the tongues is preferably 2", and the width of the bottom of the hollow also 2". Where the element has an exposure of 5,", the tongues are preferably made 21A, high, and the distanceA- from the bottom of the element to the bottom of the hollow between tongues 51/2". The width of the end of the tongues and o f the bottom of the hollows between the tongues is also preferably 2". When these elements are laid up in alternating rows of' wide exposure elements and then narrow exposure elements, et cetera, with joints over the center of tongues of the next lower course, suchl tongues will extend V4 above the upper edgeof a the exposed face of the element 'next adjacent thereover. This is an ample underlap under normal conditions. The amount of exposure,v

however, may be decreased and the underlapV correspondingly increased. The nail holes 4 are. preferably placed-at a distance from the bottom` of the element such that when the chosen exposure is attained and a vertical joint made over the center of a tongue of the next adjacent lower element. at least part of the holes will be over the end of the tongue or tongues of the next lower course, and hence the overlap can be quickly determined by passing nails through the-holes in such element and allowing it to lower until the nails come in contact with the ends of the tongues of the next lower element before nailing. This procedure not only has the advantage of determining when the chosen overlap has been attained, but also it aids in speeding up the laying of the elements.

One of the practical forms of construction for these elements consists in using the same base material as is used in forming the conventional asbestos shingles. However, if desired, these elements may be made of slate, asphalt shingle stock, metal coated with enamel, or the like. Another form of construction would be to mold the elements from a material such as commonly known to the trade as a plastic. These, in general, are formed from material such as phenolic resins, which normally are supplemented with a ller material to reduce the cost. Where the elements are molded, they can be provided, if desired, with a highly polished surface, may be made relatively thin, and the tongues may be made narrower at their base, as shown in Figure 4. Where the element has a highly polished, or even a relatively smooth surface, there is a tendency for water to creep by capillary action between adjacent courses. To overcome this, the upper face of the element 2a (Figures 4 and 10) may be provided with a groove 6. The use of the groove 6, however, is not limited to highly polished elements, but is likewise adaptable to any of the elements of the present invention.

By using the long tongues on the narrow exposure elements and the short tongues on the wide exposure elements, the tongues in each case will be sufliciently long to underlie and extend above the upper end of the exposed portion of the vertical joint between elements in the same course. This permits continuous alternate placing of wide and narrow exposure elements, and also permits the continuous placing of one or more courses of narrow exposure elements, one over the other without an opening direct to the surface under the joints, all of which combinations are shown assembled together with the two-course height elements of both kinds, in Figure 14. y

Stone buildings, such as those that are formed from hewed limestone blocks adapted to be laid in wide and narrow courses, normally have intermingled therewith for breaking 'the monotony thereof, some substantially rectangularL stones which are two courses high. 'I'he present invention has been devised so that two-course elements may also be utilized. Where a twocourse element is to be placed with its bottom in line with the bottom of a wide exposure course of elements, special joiner elements are necessary and these special elements may be of one or more unit lengths. At the left of the two-course element 1 (Figure 9) may be placed joiner element 8 (Figure 6) which has had its upper right-hand corner cut back from the full size shown in dotted lines to the edge shown by the heavy line. The right-hand joiner element 9 (Figure 7) likewise has its upper lefthand corner cut away to the heavy line. The cutting away of the corners of joiner elements 8 and 9 makes room for ears I0 and I'I respectively of the two-,course element 1. Suitable holes I2 and I3 are provided respectively in the ears I and II for the nailing of the two-course element 1 in place. In Figure 12 is shown an assembly wherein a. two-course element 1 is placed between joiner elements 9 and 8a, the latter, for convenience of showing and breaking joints, being two units long instead of the single unit shown in Figure 6. With the rst Joining course of wide exposure elements in place on opposite sides of two-course element 1, it is now ready for the placing thereon of a narrow exposure course. This requires special right and left upper joiners for the two-course element 1.

'Ihese special joiners may be formed, for instance, as is shown in Figure 5 by cutting a two unit length narrow exposure element in two along the dotted line I4 at the center of a hollow between tongues, thus producing a left-hand upper joiner element I5 and a right-hand upper joiner element I6. The placing of these upper joiner elements I5 and I6 overV the ears of the two-course element 1, as sho'wn in Figure 12, is, so far as that course is concerned, the same as taking a three unit length element and cutting the center tongue therefrom starting at the center of the hollows on each side of same, since the width of the base of the two-course element 1 is 8" and that is identical with the width of a single unit of the tongued elements. The next course, which would normally be of wide exposure, may then be laid in place across the top of the two-course element 1 and upper joiner members I5 and I6 at their upper exposure line. However, if this were to be done, it would leave an 8" length opening across the top of the twocourse element 1, such opening being of the same thickness as the upper joiner members I5 and I6. To avoid this condition, a strip I1 with nail holes I8 is nailed across the top of the twocourse element 1, the lower edge of the strip I1 preferably being in line with the bottom edge of the course laid thereover.

Where the two-course element is to be started with its bottom in line with the bottom of a course 'of narrow exposure elements, then twocourse element I9 is used. The assembly in this case is identical to that described in connection -with Figure 12 except that the two courses joined by the two-course element are laid in reverse order, i. e., the narrow exposure course is at the bottom, and the wide exposure course at the top. At the left of the two-course element I9 (Figure 8) is placed a narrow exposure left-hand joiner element 24 (Figure 16) which has its upper righthand corner cut back to the edge shown by the heavy line. The narrow exposure right-hand joiner element 25 (Figure 17) likewise has its upper left-hand corner cut away to the heavy line. The cutting away of the corners of joiner elements 24 and 25 makes room for ears 20`and 2| respectively of the two-course element Suitable holes 22 and 23 are provided respectively in the ears 2D and 2I for the nailing of the two-course element I9 in place. With the first joining course of narrow exposure elements in place on opposite sides of two-course element I9, it is now ready for the placing thereon of a wide exposure course. This also requires special left and right upper joiners for the two-course clement I9. These special joiners may be formed, for instance, as is shown in Figure 15, by cutting a two unit length wide exposure element in two along the dotted line 26 at the center of a hollow between tongues, thus producing a left-hand upper joiner element 21 and a right-hand upper joiner element 28. These left and right hand upper joiner elements 21 and 28 are placed over left ymay then be laid in place across the top of upper left and right hand Joiner elements 21 and and over the upper end of two-course element Il with strip I1 thereon, at the proper exposure distance above the bottom of left and right hand upper joiner elements 11 and 2l. This completes the laying of a two-course element with its bottom in line with the bottom of a narrow exposure course. It is to be notedin connection with the two-course elements 1 and Il that by cutting the ears as shown, no opening is presented at the lower edge of the ears where access may be had direct to the surface underneath the elements.

A further variation may be had by dropping strip I1 so that its lower edge is below the bottom of the next higher course laid over a twocourse height element such as 1 or Il. This gives the appearance of a thin stone between the top of element 1 or Il and the next higher course. To accomplish this, strip I1, or its equivalent, may be nailed in place through holes 29 with the strip dropped down until the nails contact the top of element 1 or I9. A typical installation of this nature is shown in Figure 14.

'I'he present invention has been described in terms of combinations of two-course height elements 1 and I! with narrow exposure elements adapted for 2,1/2" exposure and wide exposure elements adapted for 5 exposure, both thewide and narrow exposure elements being formed from an 8" length unit or a multiple of such units. When using elements of these sizes and exposures, then the two-course elements may be considered as rectangular units with side ears. These rectangular units will be 8" wide and preferably 8% high. The ears are preferably 1" wide. located along the side edges of the element, and normally terminate at the upper edge thereof. These ears on two-course element 1 are approximately 2H" long on their outer edge and taper so as to be approximately 3%" long where the lower end of the ears joins the vertical sides of the two-course element 1. The ears on twocourse element I! are also 1" wide and are approximately 511;" long on taper to approximately 6" long where the lower end of the ear joins the vertical sides of the twocourse element I. The above dimensions give a 1"` underlap atthe upper edge of the two-course element. as well as a l" side lap at the ears. There is, however, no particular limitation to this particular amount of underlap and side lap, andsamemaybevariedsolongas asatisfactory amount of undercoverage k retained. A typical installation of the two-course elements 1 and Il is shown in Figure 14.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those exdistinctgs elements both having tongues at regular intertheir outer edge and.

vals along the upper edge thereof, said wide'fexelement being higher from its base Ato the base of its tongues than is said narrow exposure element from its base to the base of its Y 2. A surface covering comprising alternating rows of narrow exposure and wide exposure elements, said narrow'` exposure and wide exposure elements both having tongues at regular intervals along the upper edge thereof, said tongues on the narrow exposure elements being longer than those on the wide exposure elements.

3. A surface covering comprising alternating rows of narrow exposure and wide exposure elements, said narrow exposure and wide exposure elements both having tongues at regular intervals along the upper edge thereof, each of said narrow exposure elements being shorter from its base to the base of its tongues than the length of its tongues, and each of said wide exposure elements being wider from its base to the base of its tongues than the length of its tongues.

4. A surface covering comprising alternating horizontal rows of narrow exposure and wide exposure elements, said narrow exposure and wide exposure elements both having tongues at regular intervals yalong the upper edge thereof, said elements being cut-to at least one unit length and at identical points on the ends thereof for matching and making complete tongues in manner such that when laid in courses with the butted joints of the elements of one course over the center of the tongues of the next adjacent lower course and undercovered thereby to an extent greater than the exposure of said undercovered course, the center of the tongues of each course will be snifted'sidewise from course to course whereby the butted joints of adjacent courses will be staggered in manner preventing one falling over the other.

5. A surface covering comprising alternating rows of tongued narrow exposure and tongued wide exposure elements having interspersed therein at intervals, two-course height elements.

6. A surface covering comprising alternating rows of tongued narrow exposure and tongued wide exposure elements. with two or more narrow exposure courses placed together at intervals.

'1. A surface, covering comprising alternating rows of tongued narrow exposure and tongued wide exposure elements, with two or more narrow exposure courses placed together at intervals, and interspersed at intervals in said alternating rows of narrow exposure and wide exposure elements, two-course height elements.

8. A surface covering comprising alternating rows of narrow exposure and wide exposure elements. saidv narrow exposure elements having spaced apart long tongue-like members projecting upward from their upper edge toform a complete underlap at the point of butted edge joints of the next higher course of covering elements, and said wide exposure elements having short tongue-like members projecting upward from their upper edge to form a complete underlap at the point of butted edge joints of the next higher course of narrow exposure covering elements.

9. A surface covering comprising alternating rows of narrow exposure and wide exposure eiements,l said narrow exposure elements having spaced apart long tongue-like members projecting upward from their upper edge to form a complete underlap at the point of butted edge joints of the next higher course of covering elements.

said wide exposure elements having short tonguelike members projecting upward from their upper edge to form a complete underlap at the point of butted edge joints of the next higher course of narrow exposure covering elements, and at least one groove adjacent the upper edge of the face of each of said narrow exposure and wide exposure elements and following the general contour thereof. r

10. In a surface covering material adapted to be laid so as to simulate a stone wall, the combination of courses of narrow exposure and wide exposure elements, the narrow exposure element I course having relatively long tongue-like members uniformly spaced along its upper edge, and the wide exposure element coursehaving relatively short tongue-like members uniformly spaced along its upper edge, said tongue-like members in either case being of a length such that when the elements are properly laid, the` tongues will underlie the joints of the next higher course of elements and extend above the upper exposure line thereof.

11. A surface covering element having a substantially rectangular base portion, inclined edge tongues projecting from one of the lengthwise edges of said base portion and spaced at regular intervals, said tongues having a wide base and a narrower fiat point substantially centrally located thereabove, said surface covering element being cut to at least one unit length, the cutting at one end of the element starting approximatelyw.

at the center of one of the inclined edges of a tongue so as to leave the major portion of the tongue on said base portion, and the cutting at the other end of the element being at the approximate center of the inclined edge of another tongue and parallel to the cut on the other end of the element, but leaving only a minor portion of said tongue on said base portion, said uni ts in completed form being such that when laid in rows, end to end, and in identical order, the out ends will match to form complete tongues.

l2. In a surface covering element of the character described, the combination of a substantially rectangular base portion, tongues on the upper edge thereof at regular intervals, and at least one groove adjacent the upper edge of the face of said element and following the general contour thereof.

13. In a surface covering material adapted to be laid so as to simulate a stone wall laid in alternating wide and narrow exposure courses with interspersed two-course exposure elements, the combination which includes a substantially rectangular element which is substantially higher than the added exposure of the two courses in which it is to be laid with its lower edge in line with the lower edge of the bottom of said courses, ears projecting from the sides of said substantially rectangular element, the upper edge of said ears being adjacent the upper edge of the element, and means for anchoring said ears to a suitable surface.

14. In a surface covering material adapted to be laid so as to simulate a stone wall laid in alternating wide and narrow exposure courses with interspersed two-course exposure elements, the combination which includes a substantially rectangular element which is substantially higher than the added exposure of the two courses in which it is to be laid with its lower -edge in line with the lower edge of the bottom of said courses, ears projecting from the sides of said substantially rectangular element, the lower edge of said ears being cut so as to intermesh with the upper adjacent corners of the lower of the two courses in which the substantially rectangular element is laid, and means for anchoring said ears to a suitable surface.

15. In a surface covering material adapted to be laid so as to simulate a stone wall laid in alternating wide and narrow exposure courses'with interspersed elements for breaking the monotony thereof, the combination which includes alternating courses of narrow exposure elements and wide exposure elements, the narrow exposure element course having relatively long tongue-like members uniformly spaced along its upper edge, and the wide exposure element course having relatively short tongue-like members uniformly spaced along its upper edge, said tongue-like members in either ease being of a length such that when the elements are properly laid, the tongues will underlie the joints of the next higher course of elements and extend above the upper exposure line thereof, a substantially rectangular element which is substantially higher than the added exposure of the two courses in which it is to be laid with its lower edge in line with the lower edge of the bottom of said courses, ears projecting from the sides of said substantially rectangular element, right and left joiner elements in said lower course, the upper adjacent corners of said joiner elements being cut away downward and toward the substantially rectangular element to be joined, the lowermost edge of said cut away corners terminating approximately at the upper exposure line of said elements, the ears on said rectangular element being cut at their under edge to intermesh with the cut away corners of the lower right and left joiner elements, right and left upper joiner elements having their inner ends laid so as to just cover the .width of the ears of the rectangular element, a strip that is the thickness of the right and left upper joiner elements and of a length equal to the Width of the base of said rectangular element, said strip being fastened between the right and left upper joiner elements at the top of saidrectangular element with the base of the strip in line with the upper exposure line of the right and left upper joiner elements.

16. In a surface covering material adapted to be laid so as to simulate a stone wall laid in alternating wide and narrow exposure courses with interspersed elements for breaking the monotony thereof, the combination which includes alternating courses of narrow exposure elements and wide exposure elements, the narrow exposure element course having relatively long tongue-like members uniformly spaced along its upper edge, and the wide exposure element course having relatively short tongue-like members uniformly spaced along its upper edge, said tongue-like members in either case being of a length such that when the elements are properly laid, the tongues will underlie the joints of the next higher course of elements and extend above the upper exposure line thereof, a substantially rectangular element which is substantially higher than the added exposure of the two courses in which it is to be laid with its lower edge in line with the lower edge of the bottom of said courses, ears projecting from the sides of said substantially rectangular element, right and left joiner elements in said lower course, the upper adjacent corners of said joiner elements being cut away downward land toward the substantially rectangular element to be joined, the lowermost edge of said cut away corners terminating approximately at the upper rectangular element being cut at their lunder edge to intermesh with the cut away corners of the lower right and left Joiner elements, right and left upper Joiner elements 'formed with their lett and right ends respectively terminating in a vertical line at the .center of, a hollow between tongues, said ends being laidso as to Just cover the width of the ears of the rectangular element, s strip that is the thickness ci' menant and left upper Joiner elements and of a length equal to the width of the base of said rectangular element,

Ysaid strip being fastened between the right and left upper Joiner elements at the top oi' said rectangular elements with the ibase of the strip yin linewith the upper exposure line of the right and left upper Joiner elements.

17. In a surface covering materialA adapted to be laid so asto simulate a stone wall laid in alternating wide and narrow exposure courses with interspersed elements for breaking the monotony thereof, the Acombination which includes alternating courses of narrow exposureelements and wide exposure elements, the narrow exposure element course having relatively long tongue-like members uniformly spaced along its upper edge, and the wide exposure element course having relatively vshort tongue-like members uniformly spaced along its upper edge, said tongue-like members in either case being of a length such that when the elements are properly laid. the tongues will underlie the joints of the next higher course of elements and extend above the upper exposure line thereof, a substantialiyrectangularelementwhichis theaddedexposureoithetwocoursesinwhich itistobe laidwithitsloweredgeinlinewith the lower edge of the bottom of said courses,` earl prolecting from the sidesot saidsubstantially rectangular element. righty andleft 101mg eusments in said lower course. theupper adjacent corners of said Iioiner elements being cut away downward and toward the substantially rectanguiar element to be Joined.' the lowermost edge oi' said cut away corners terminating approximately at the upper exposure line of said elements. the

ears on said rectangular element-being cut ai:4

their under edge to intermesh with the cut away corners of the lower right and lett Joiner elements, right and left upper joiner elements hav ing their inner ends laid-so as to Just cover the width ot the ears of the rectangular two-course element. a strip that is the thickness of the right and left upper joiner elements and o! a length equal to the width of the base of said rectangular element, said strip being fastened between-the right and left upper Joiner elements at the top of saidrectangular elementwith the base o! the strip projecting below the upper exposure line'of the right and left upper joiner elements-in man= ner such that when the next course la laid there-V over the lowered edge of the strip will cause the appearance of placing a thin stone across the -top of the rectangular element.

BERT G. GOBLIN. 

